How long is the ferry from Faial to Pico?

The short crossing

For almost everyone the answer is the Horta to Madalena boat. Horta is Faial's town and port, Madalena is Pico's, and the channel between them is narrow enough that the operator schedules the crossing at half an hour. You can see Pico's mountain from the Horta waterfront the whole time you wait, and the boat lands you in the middle of Madalena, a short walk from the town's cafés and the car hire desks.

The longer one

Some sailings link Horta with Cais do Pico, the port at São Roque do Pico on the north coast. That route goes round rather than across, so it is more than twice as long. It is worth it only when the north coast is where you are staying or heading next, for example on the way to São Jorge.

What to allow on top

The crossing time is not the whole journey. The operator asks foot passengers to be at the boat at least ten minutes before it leaves, and cars at least twenty. In rough weather sailings are delayed, moved or cancelled, so a tight connection with a flight is the one plan that the sea regularly breaks.

What this page does not tell you

Departure times and how many boats run each day change with the season, so they are not copied here. Today's sailings are on the ferry timetable, and the routes, ports and what to know before boarding are in ferries to Pico.